Category Archives: Society Islands

Including Bora Bora, Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Ralatea Tahaa

Konis Family at the Grottos

Tahitian Natural Grottos Mara’a

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Tahiti has many natural grottos hidden amongst its hillsides.  We discover three natural grottos, cut in the rock, not far from the road at the Mara’a Grotto.  Permanent infiltrations of water have formed small lakes with crystal-clear and very cool water.  We make our way on a natural trail into a world of luscious flora where abundant fern foliage and green tropical plants thrive.

Access to Grotto Mara’a is a little hidden gem and  is free to the public.

Konis Family at the Grottos

Konis Family at the Grottos

Grotto: Ana-Vai-poiri

Ana-Vai-poiri (dark water grotto) is the name of the largest grotto.  It is peculiar in that it shows an optical illusion.  Its arched-shaped ceiling lowers and plunges into the depths of the cave.  It appears smaller than it is in reality.  And yet, it is 80 meters (260’) long, 30 meters (100’) wide at the entrance and 10 meters (30’) tall at its highest part.

Ana-Vai-poiri (dark water grotto)

Ana-Vai-poiri (dark water grotto)

Grotto: Ana-Mata-vaa

Ana-Mata-vaa (a canoe-prow shaped grotto) is the name of the 2nd largest grotto.  There is lots of foliage growing down toward the water reaching out for a taste of water. 

Ana-Mata-vaa (a canoe-prow shaped grotto)

Ana-Mata-vaa (a canoe-prow shaped grotto)

Grotto: Vai-Pātōtō

The smallest grotto is named Vai-Pātōtō (grotto where water trickles down with a knocking sound).  Even though it is the smallest, it is the prettiest with the huge variety of plants and flora surrounding it, growing on it, over it, and below it. 

Vai-Pātōtō (grotto where water trickles down with a knocking sound)

Vai-Pātōtō (grotto where water trickles down with a knocking sound)

There are lots of birds’ nest in the towering walls of the grottos.  You can find a colony of Ōpe’a (Hirundo tahitica) small grey Pacific swallows and Hopetea (or Ma’uroa Hope’uo (phaethon lepturus) which are white tailed tropic birds.  Periodically, grey Out’u or reef egrets (egretta sacra) will adventure into the grottos from the seaside.

We stopped for a snack at the little park directly across from the grottos.  Just a moment to enjoy the beauty of Tahiti.

Visit us next as the Konis’s and I visit the Tahitian Water Gardens: Jardin d’eau de Vaipahi.  And if you missed our last stop, read about the Museum de Tahiti here.

Events from this blog post occurred during the last week of July, 2021.  Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind our adventures.  Here are some photos from the Grotto’s Mara’a.

Me and Kimberly

Museum de Tahiti

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Troy, Kimberly, Cole and Cameron (my family) return to French Polynesia.  We took it easy on their first day since they flew all night long.  We unpacked the two 50lb bags full of boat parts that they brought us, frolicked in the water, and hit the large Carrefour for a few last-minute provisions.  The next day, we rented a car to tour around the island of Tahiti.  Our first stop was the Museum de Tahiti.

Museum de Tahiti

The best laid plans still can go awry.  I emailed and or called each of our desired stops to ensure they were open.  We are still after all still in the middle of a pandemic.  The museum responded that “yes, we are indeed open.”  However, when we arrived, we learned that the actual museum is under massive renovations and they only have an exhibit up.  Well, shoot.

The exhibit showcases many costumes worn during heiva (their annual festival) which are super fun to look at, along with art, and a few sculptures.

We take advantage of all the fun photo opportunities.  Troy, Cameron, and Cole imitating the tiki behind them.

Troy, Cameron, Cole

Troy, Cameron, Cole

Kimberly and I in front of the exhibit photo.

Kimberly and I

Kimberly and I

Museum de Tahiti had lots of life size beautiful posters.

Cameron and Cole posing like the Rapa Nui (Easter Island) tiki

Cameron and Cole

Cameron and Cole

Troy and Kimberly poised as the Tahitian bride and groom (see costumes behind them)

Troy and Kimberly

Troy and Kimberly

Lots of beautiful heiva costumes were on display.

Heiva Costumes

Heiva Costumes

Cole and Cameron with an authentic Tahitian pirogue.

This was an amazing piece of art painted on metal.  Can you see the dancer’s in the swirl of feathers?  It took us awhile, but there are 2 women facing each other dancing.  The one on the left is smiling and shows teeth in her mouth and the one on the right has her mouth open.

Can you find the two dancers?

Can you find the two dancers?

Museum de Tahiti Gardens

We venture outside to see the grounds.  They have lots of statues scattered around the property.  Kimberly and I both have to “go.”

Museum de Tahiti Tiki Garden

Museum de Tahiti Tiki Garden

Troy looking out toward Mo’orea

A large area with hand painted graphics depicting unique illustrations from each heiva (festival)

Stay tuned for the next blog when the Konis Family visits the natural grottos of Tahiti.

Events from this blog post occurred during the last week of July, 2021.  Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind our adventures.

Papeete Anchorage

Tahiti Anchorage

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We are anchored in Tahiti at the anchorage called Marina Taina, on 11 June 2021.  It is extremely unusual for us to be in this particular anchorage for an extended period of time.  But, it is what it is.  We arrived a few weeks before my trip back to the States, then I was in the U.S. for 3 weeks and then we waited 2 weeks for my family to arrive.  Sure, we could have moved the boat during the last two weeks, but we were busy doing boat projects and visiting friends.

Technically, there are two anchorages in the Tahiti area. One is called the “airport anchorage” and the other is called “Marina Taina anchorage.”  The airport anchorage is right across from the airport and can be a bit calmer than the other location.  It is equidistant between downtown Papeete and Marina Taina (about 2.5-3nm miles each way).  Sugar Shack has only anchored here once, for one night and found it to be very crowded, but decent.  We typically, anchor directly across from the Intercontinental Hotel swimming pool and over the water huts on the reef side.  We drop the hook in 3 meters of crystal clear, turquoise water and face Mo’orea.  It is much prettier, a bit quieter, and closer to Marina Taina (1nm) but a lot further to downtown Papeete (4.5-5nm).

We do get lovely sunsets behind Mo’orea.

Sunset of Mo'orea from our anchorage

Sunset of Mo’orea from our anchorage

Waiting for a Change

So, here is where Sugar Shack has sat at anchor for the past 6 weeks.  She will be more than ready to make a move soon.  While Sugar Shack has been patiently waiting for us to head to our next destination, we have been busy finishing up boat projects, making repairs, cleaning, and running to town.  

View towards Mo’orea from the stern.

Mo'orea view

Mo’orea view

And a beautiful sunset behind Mo’orea

View of the dilapidated boats abandoned by their owners. Several boats were left in the marina and or in their anchorage.  The marina moved them to the shallow reef side to simply rot away.  So sad.

Dilapidated Boats left to rot

Dilapidated Boats left to rot

View of the Intercontinental Hotel over the water huts (the swimming pool is too far to see in the photo).

Intercontinental Hotel Tahiti

Intercontinental Hotel Tahiti

View in front of the boat toward the airport anchorage

Looking out toward Airport Anchorage

Looking out toward Airport Anchorage

Why We Don’t Like this Anchorage

Anchoring here is a necessary evil.  We have to come to Tahiti to provision, stock up on boat parts, and do general errands.  The outer islands do not have the resources that Tahiti has so we come here.

Even though the water is crystal clear where we are anchored, it is dirty.  The sides of our boat become filthy from the pollution in the water.  You can’t see it, but it is there.  This is on top of the trash that is actually in the water as well.  The dirt on the waterline (between the black bottom paint and the red stripe) is from a little over a week of being in the water.

Dirty waterline from the water

Dirty waterline from the water

After several hours of scrubbing and elbow grease she looks wonderful. Of course, it will be dirty in a day or two, but for now she looks gorgeous.

In addition to the water quality, there is a lot of traffic that comes by us. We are after all located near the channel.  Big boats, small boats, fast boats, jet skis, and party boats all pass by us creating huge wakes and noise.

We are surrounded by dilapidated boats (see above) which make a racket because nobody is tending to them.  The airport is extremely close so we hear every airplane, jet, helicopter that lands and takes off.  The town is close so we hear traffic.

So, not our favorite place to be.  We prefer the isolated motus in Gambier or the Tuamotus.  But, we are here and making the best and most of it.

Heading to Town via Marina Taina

We hop in Sweetie and drive the 1+nm to Marina Taina where we tie up to the dinghy Dock.  On the way, we pass by all the beautiful super yachts.

Marina Taina Super Yacht Dock

Marina Taina Super Yacht Dock

Even Mother Nature favors these beautiful beasts of the sea

Marina Taina Super Yacht Dock

Marina Taina Super Yacht Dock

Once we secure our dinghy, we walk 1/4 mile to the bus stop, then wait for the bus to take us to downtown Papeete which is about 30 minute ride.

Beautiful Artwork 

All around Papeete you will find beautiful artwork on and around the buildings.  Tikis are scattered throughout downtown as well as creative artwork on the side of buildings.  Here are just a few that I have found.

Tahiti Wall Art

Tahiti Wall Art

Tahiti Wall Art

Tahiti Wall Art

Check out our previous posts in Tahiti.

Events from this blog took place around the last two weeks of July.  The blog posts 6-8 weeks behind our actual adventures.